VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of the Church, in union with the Eucharistic sacrifice, my prayers, actions, joys and sufferings of this day. (Morning Offering)
From the time I wake up in the morning until beyond the sun setting, everything I do I unite to the sacrifice of Jesus and his eucharistic presence where he is always there waiting, interceding for, and loving us. The spirituality of a Daughter of St. Paul is very eucharistic. When I unite myself with not only the Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, but with all the Masses celebrated all over the world all day and night, it takes on an infinite value.
The first thing I do when I wake up at 5 a.m. is direct my day to God with a prayer to the Holy Spirit to enlighten me. This is followed by meditation. Generally, meditation is made on the readings for Mass. So I prepare for Mass at the same time. After Mass, with the other sisters, we clean the sidewalk fronting the bookstore. This is followed by prayer in common, breakfast and the opening of the bookstore. Evening prayer is about 5:15 p.m. followed by supper, after which we are on our own. Prayer and work are woven into each other throughout the day.
Regarding the daily ritual of cleaning the sidewalk, it does not bother me so much. I feel sorry for those that do not have a place to live (or choose not to live in a shelter or other place), have certain mental conditions, or are on drugs. Once someone said to me, “I don’t know if you know that you are enabling these people.”
We are not trying to enable them. But except for the grace of God, I could be on the streets myself. To me, it is not a burden to clean up after them. Sometimes, they are neat and clean up after themselves, or are helpful wanting to sweep. They don’t want to be sloppy. One man asked if we could come out earlier before going to Mass, or if we could leave the cleaning equipment out. I hesitated, fearing that we might not get it back. Seeing my hesitation, he said, “Well, maybe I can buy some.” Here is a homeless man who was thinking if he had the means, he would buy some cleaning supplies. God bless him.
God can bring good out of anything, even something that seems wrong or painful. As we face societal issues and this pandemic, we hope good will come out of this. As for myself, St. Paul said: “The charity of Christ urges me on.” It is the love of God, who loves me so intimately and eternally that evokes my response in love. I want to do whatever he wants me to do, to let him live in me. Once you experience the love of God, you want to share it with everyone unto the ends of the earth.
Sister Susan Miriam Wolf is a Daughter of St. Paul. Originally from Indiana, she is the middle of five siblings. She is 42 years professed. Sister arrived in Hawaii two-and-a-half years ago and serves as the superior of the Pauline community on Bishop Street in downtown Honolulu.
